This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The ignition switch won't turn, car seems to be on even though lets aren't in ignitiinnswitch, radio comes on but car let stick in on position and won't turn..doors won't lock unless key is used
When attempting to start my vehicle everything turned on in the car except the car itself. Brake pedal was stiff and nothing would turn the engine on. It took over 10 minutes and was finally able to get the vehicle to fire. Has happened twice today 7/13/19. The vehicle is a push button start with battery charge of 95% and new batteries in the fob.
My 2013 Kia Optima engine shut off while I was driving and luckily I didnt get into accident and was able to park nearby to wait for a towed truck. This is very scary and dangerous. Not sure what to
Engine recall. Dealership first received vehicle repair March 4, 2019 for complete engine replacement due to recall and car become completely immobile while on freeways. And towed to dealership. Dealership informed me first engine failed and reordered a new engine. Received vehicle back from 2nd attempt of engine repair May 16, 2019. Vehicle check engine light illuminated May 31,2019. Returned vheicle back to dealership. Repair to harness and noc sensor. Received vehicle back for repair June 8th. On June 10th vehicle became immobile again while driving out of parking lot and towed to dealership for repair. Waiting on dealership for details of car problems.
Passenger side headlight keeps going out, it has happened at least 7 times and per southwest Kia the entire kit would have to be changed. And it's only the passenger side that has the issue. The date reflects the most recent time it's happened
- Dallas, TX, USA
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Driving home on the highway on a Sunday evening on May 19, 2019 in oakland, California, my sunroof (specifically, the middle panel of the three glass roof panels on the Kia Optima sx 2013) suddenly and without any warning cracked, letting off an ear-piercing pop. I drove to a safe place with my hazard lights on, hearing pieces of glass fall off of my car into the lane behind me. The sunroof was closed at the time of the incident, and fortunately, the fabric sun shade underneath was closed, so I was spared from the shower of glass and injury other car owners have experienced during this explosion of glass. There were no other vehicles around me at the time of the incident and no debris, and I was driving straight on a smoothly paved road. When I inspected the sunroof, there was a huge hole in the center of the glass panel and the broken glass around the hole was pointing upward into the sky. The entire glass panel was shattered but still in place. There was no debris or a rock inside the sun shade underneath that could explain the hole. It was altogether eerie and very frightening and traumatizing, and I was grateful I wasn't killed by any potential accident that could have been caused by this unsafe sunroof explosion. I am in process of getting it repaired at the dealership where I bought the car used, and I have made a claim with both my car insurance company (geico, who has not been very helpful in acknowledging this as a manufacturing defect), and with Kia Consumer Affairs. Kia also has not acknowledged that this is a defect, and none of the Kia dealership service representatives or managers I've spoken with (six of them) have heard of this before.
The traction control on this vehicle is dangerous. If the tires slip for any reason, power to the engine is cut. This can be a slight slip from water on the road, stepping on the gas to pull out into traffic, or driving in icy or snow conditions. You have to give the car at least 10-20 seconds to move again. With oncoming traffic this could be deadly. I have had numerous incidents where I was almost hit while waiting for the engine to re-engage. Sometimes I am then stepping on the gas, casusing another slip and stall in the same instance, there is a switch that can be engaged to turn this off, but you have to turn it off every time you start the car. I have asked at least three different Kia dealers about this right after purchasing the vehicle see if it could be permanently turned off, but was always told no.
On March 7, 2019, my 2013 Kia Optima caught fire while my daughter was driving. She parked the car in a public parking lot and realized the front end of the car was on fire. Thank god she is physically okay, and no one else was injured. My car was a total loss, another car was a total loss, and a third car was damaged. The insurance company determined the cause of the fire was no fault of the motorist, rather product malfunction. Any suggestions welcome.
While applying breaks I often get loud rumbling noise on city streets, also when it rains water leaks on driver and passenger feet under dash this happens when vehicle is in motion and stationary.
On Jan 2nd, my ECM module went out on my car. This part Kia tells me is recalled for 15-18 days- today is Jan 15th- there is no part- they tell me this is the part engine computer module that runs the car. All lights came on in my car, and I could not accelerate more than 10 mph with the car. Took it immediately to a repair shop. It's on back order because so many Optimas in my year are failing this part. In the interim, I am without a car- my car is stuck in satellite beach at boniface Kia in melbourne, fl I live 140 South in West palm beach and I have no assistance from Kia. They have no real answer on getting this part or eta on when I can expect my car back. I do not have any documentation yet- the servicing was all scheduled through devon's automotive in satellite beach at 321-773-6412. They just informed me today that on Jan 14th boniface Kia called them for my car as they found a part locally but the part was defective.
I was driving the vehicle when the battery light came on and then the car started to overheat and then just cut off. I tried to start the vehicle but would not start. Had it towed to Kia wich told me it was the pulleys froze up and shredded the belt. Now Kia just replaced my engine from the recall. Now I always have the oil changed every 3,000 miles and I take it to the same place everytime now when they changed the engine they said I would need a new alternator but that was it. Not to mention I just had it at Kia for a oil change and a free inspection. Which the inspection stated nothing about the belts or pulleys which are supposed to be inspected. So that is twice they missed a worn out idler pulley. Now the mechanic I had looking at it told me it was so worn that it broke off and that there is no way they missed it.
I have been having repeated issues following the Kia theta II engine recall replacement (SC147) since June 2018. My car is practically new with 53K +/- miles, purchased new, and had all the recommended and required maintenance performed. I took my car to rick case Kia (dealer code:GA083) to have my engine replaced midsummer 2018. Since then I have been experiencing persistent check engine light (cel) issues for the same engine diagnostic code(P2191). Each time I take my car to the dealer for resolution, technicians give me different reasons for what they "think" could be the root issue. Thus far, I have been told the issue was due to bad gas, an O2 sensor gone bad, a leak, history code from another dealer not clearing the recall, and now a fuel kit will be replaced. It is my assumption that if Kia technicians truly knew what the issue was I would not have so many repeated trips for the same issue. To this date(December 14th 2018) they still have not provided a clear resolution. In light of recent events surrounding Kia vehicles, specifically Optima, catching on fire and engines randomly blowing up this is something that needs an immediate resolution.it impacts my safety as the vehicle owner and those driving around me. I have expressed how uncomfortable I am driving this car in the current state (with the engine light on) and my concerns are being dismissed. I am told that it is not a drivability issue and I can drive it away with the light on. It should be no surprise why that is not a comforting diagnosis as I have been back about 6-7 times now. I am currently making attempts to engage/escalate this with the Kia corporate office. In an attempt to be proactive I am seeking help!
On September 16, 2018 at approximately 930am, while on duty at work(correction officer) my Kia Optima gdi 2013 went up in flames in the parking lot of my job.. I was not present and the vehicle. I had already been on duty 530am that morning. Once I made it to the scene my car was completely almost burnt to the ground. The fire department labeled it as a electrical fire, which caused the car the burn from the inside out, starting from the engine. I had several personal items of mine burnt in the fire and also work equipment that was lost in the fire. Since the incident I've suffered mental, emotional and physical distress. I'm a single mother and I depended on my car to get me where I needed to go. Things have been very frustrating and hard. I'm seeking help from Kia motors.
2013 Kia Optima sx. Car loses power while on the road, engine warning light comes on. Car can't be driven past 20 mph or so no matter accelerator position. Car has been taken to dealer sevral times and a cause still unknown. Dealership changed engine cable harness and reset comuter (apparently settings were scrambled) and car then is functional. Last time, car lost power in highway and almost got rear-ended. Dangerous.
The passenger side window fell down into the door. When the dealership removed the door to look at what happened they found where the plastic wheel and wires that help the window go up and down had broke they felt it was a malfunction very costly to replace
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- Henderson, NC, USA